Throttle control mechanism



June 18, 1935.

THROTTLE CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Jan. 24, 1935 li L \nvenTor F. E.LIVERANCE, JR 2,005,262

Patented June 18, 1935 V I i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE THROTTLECONTROL MECHANISM Frank E. Livcrance, Jr. Grnndville, Mich. ApplicationJanuary 24, 1935, Serial No. 3,351 10 Claims. (01.123-103) Thisinvention relates to an automatic throttle throttle so that it may moveto a position to procontrol mechanism for use with and application videidling speed for the engine is gradual and to internal combustionengines, particularly as not abrupt, thereby providing an interval oftime used on motor veh'cles. whereby the operator may move his foot fromthe In the starting of internal combustion engines, starter pedal,depression of which by the foot 5 such as are used with motor vehicles,it is frecloses the starting motor circuit, and engage the quently verydesirable that the throttle valve asaccelerator pedal before thethrottle valve has sociated with the carburetor shall be partly moved toits closed position. This is desirable opened in order that there shallbe insurance of for the reason that should the mechanism, which asutflcient volume of explosive fuel mixture holds the throttle valvepartially open when the 10 passed to the engine cylinders. This isparticuengine is at,rest, immediately become ineffeclarly true when theengine has stood for any tive upon the engine starting, there might be alength of time and is at atmospheric temperature, dying of the engineand its stopping before the which in the colder periods of the year maybe accelerator pedal could be engaged for the purl5 quite low. Even inthe seasons of the year when pose of maintaining the throttle valve-openthe the atmospheric temperature is not exceptionally necessary amount toinsure continuation of the low it is-very desirable that on starting theengine engine running during the period of time after the throttle valvebe partially open. it has started before it becomes warmed up sum- It iscommon to open the throttle valve by opercientiy to run at idling speed.

2o ation of a throttle control lever mounted at the An understanding ofthe invention for the atcenter of the steering wheel. This is frequentlytainment of the above stated objects and purforgotten and an attemptmade to start the enposes, as well as others not at this time specifignewith the throttle lever at a position in which cally enumerated, may behad from the folthe throttle valve is substantially closed and then,lowing description, taken in connection with the when the engine doesnot readily start, the operaaccompanying drawin in which. 25

tor of the car will remember to move the throttle Fig. 1 is a sideelevation, p y in c i n. 11- lever in the proper direction to partiallyopen the lustrating the application of the automatic throttle valve. Theamount that the throttle lever throttle control to an internalcombustion engine, may be moved is dependent upon the judgment and ofthe operator. It may be moved so much that Fig. 2 isa central verticalsection through a dif- 30 the engine on starting will race. This isundeferent or modified form of vacuum cylinder which sirable. It is muchbetter that a predetermined may be used. opening of the throttle valvebe automatically Like reference characters refer to like parts insuredat the time the engine is to be started. in the figures of the drawing.1

t The present invention is directed to providing In motor vehicles, thepower plant, an internal 35 a simple and thoroughly practical mechanismfor combustion engine, indicated at l,is provided with providing aninsurance that the throttle valve an intake manifold. as ind at I, fromwh shall be open a desired predetermined amount at the explosive mixtureof air and fuel passing into the time the engine is started. It is alsoan obthe manifold from the carburetor 3, is carried ject of theinvention to provide a means whereby to-the engine cylinders. Thecarburetor is pro- 40 the extent of the throttle valve opening at thevided with a shaft 4 extending through the upper time the engine isstarted may be varied or adportion of said carburetor, on which theusual justed for difierent temperature conditions of throttle valve V ismounted within the carburedifierent periods of the year. It is a stillfurther tor outlet neck as indicated in dotted lines. The

object of the invention that, when the engine valve turning with theshaftlmaybemoved from 45 has started and is operating under its ownpower, substantially closed position through diiferent posuch means for,thus partially opening the throttle sitions until maximum open positionis reached. valve for starting is rendered ineffective so that The morethe throttle valve is closed .the less the r thereafter the acceleratorpedal control of the volume of fuel mixture wh ch passes to the enginespeed of the engine may be accomplished cylinders. Conversely. the morethethrottle throughout the entire range of speed, from idling valve ismoved toward open position the greater speed to the maximum speed of theengine. And the volume of fuel mixture which goes to the cylit is astill further object of the invention to pro-. inders. It is by controlof this throttle valve, usuvlde means whereby, for a short period oftime ally through the foot operation of an accelerator after the enginehas started, the release of the pedal that the speed of rotation of theengine 55 lower front corner of a triangular plate I pivit 'is formedwith stop lugs 24 and 2t.

otally mounted at I at its upper corner in front of and below the usualdownwardly and rearwardly inclined footboard-s of the'front or drivingcompartment of the motor vehicle. Arod I0 is pivotally connected at itslower end to 'the lower rear corner of the plate 1 and extends throughan opening in the footboard 9 and preferably is provided with a head atits upper end, against which an accelerator pedal Ii bears. The pedal ispivotally mounted adjacent its lower end as shown. It is evident that byplacing the foot on the pedal H and pressing thereon the rod 6 may bemoved in a substantially horizontal direction to theleft and thus movethe throttle valvemore and more toward open position. A spring l2connected'a't oneend to the plate I and at the other end :to thefootboard O'tends to move the rod i and connected parts to the right.

This spring I2 may be applied at any place in connection with themechanism between the accelerator pedal and the throttle valve for thepurpose of moving the same in 'a direction opposite to the direction ofmovement that pressure upon the accelerator pedal accomplishes. Suchmechanism or an equivalent mechanism, for accomplishing the same resultis old and well known in connection with motor vehicles, the motivepower of which is an internal combustion engine.

A cylinder II is pivotally connected at it so as to be suitablysupported by the engine block.-

A tube l5 connects the interior of the cylinder at its closed end withthe manifold 2. A piston i6 is mounted in the outer end portion of thecylinder between which and'the bottom of the cylinder is a coiledcompression spring II. 4 rod ll extends from the outer end of the pistonand is connected at its outer end to the lower end of a lever I,pivotally mounted between its ends at 20, and having a fork 2| at itsupper end, the legs of which pass one at either side of the rod 6, andthe front edges of which bear against the rear side of a collar 22mounted on the rod 8. Provision is made-for adjustably securing thecollar 22-, as by a set screw connection, so that the collar may beshifted to diflerent positions on the rod 0.

An arc-shaped plate 22, supported on the engine block and with which thepivot 2| may be connected, depends below the pivot 2|. At each side ofthe lever It at its lower opposite corners An adlusting screw 26 isshown threaded through the lug 2I, and it is evident, of course, ifdesired that a like adjusting screw may be threaded through the'lug 24.

- 4 Operation when the engine the lever II in a counterclockwisedirection until pped against the end of the screw 28. The upper forkedend 2| of the lever ll moves the collar 22 and the rod! to which it isattached to the left. The spring. I! is strong enough to accomplish thismovement and overcome the'spring l2.- Therefore, thethrottlevalve ispartly opened, the extent of the opening being dependent upon theposition ,of the adjusting screw-28 and the collar 22:- itis evidentalso that the accelerator pedal which follows the rod I0 is loweredbelow its extreme upper position and the position which it would occupyif the lever is did not thus act upon the rod 6 to move the same againstthe spring I2. The throttle valve is partly opened and held in apredetermined position such that the volume of fuel mixture, when theengine is .being turned over by the starting motor, is greatcated by thetube ii to the interior of the piston l3. The pressure of air againstthe outer end of the piston l6, being greater than the pressure withinthe cylinder l3, causes the piston ii to move to the left with acompression of the spring I I and a, consequent clockwise turningmovementof the lever i9. This releases the rod 5, whereupon spring l2acts to move the throttle valve to its extreme closed position and cuts'down the speed of the engine to idling speed.

There are times when the lowering of pressure within the engine manifolddoes not occur or, at least, the degree of vacuum is greatly lessened.This occurs at the times when the throttle valve is substantially wideopen or is approaching such position. This may occur at very high speedsor at times when the engine is laboring under heavy loads such as goingup a steep hill. At such times the spring II will move the piston l6outwardly. There is noeflect, however, on the rod 6 because in order tomove the throttle valve to or toward its wide open position, theaccelerator pedal II must have been heavily depressed,

- thereby moving the collar 22 to the left away from the upper forkedend 2| of lever I! even though such lever should be in the positionshown in Fig. 1. As soon as the accelerator pedal II is released so asto start the closing movement of the throttle valve the pressure in themanifold again falls'below atmospheric pressure whereby, when the collar22 has moved back to its extreme position to the right, the piston Ithas been moved to the left, and lever it brought against the stop 24.Accordingly, during all times when the engine is operating under its ownpower, the collar 22 and the forked end 2| of. the lever is do notengage against each other. Thereis no interference with the freeoperation of the accelerator pedal between the position which itoccupies when the engine is running at its lowest idling speed and theother extreme position wherein the engine is running at its highestspeed. v

In Fig. 2 a modification in the structure of the cylinder is shown. Thecylinder Ila therein is is at rest, the spring I! moves similar to thecylinder I 3 and has the same connection of the tube ll leading from thecylinder to the engine manifold. The piston It, the spring I! and pistonrod I! are the same and the-rod is to be connected to the lever II inthe same. manner. The cylinder, however, is elongated somewhat and itsouter end'closed by a plate 21 through which the rod -ll freely passes.The plate 21 has a small air entrance or vent passage 28 therethrough.

At the upper side of the. cylinder, a boss 2| is cast which isinteriorly cored or bored, making an enlarged passage through the bossuntil the wall of the cylinder is reached, whereupon the lower end ofsaid opening in the boss is provided with a downwardly and inwardlyinclined tapering seat 30. A smaller passage 3| leads from the largeropening in the boss through the wall of the cylinder. The outer end ofthe boss is closed by a plug 32 through when are a plurality of airpassage or vent openings 33. A ball valve 34 normally rests by gravityon the taperedseat 30 so as to close the passage 3|.

It is evident that the outward movement of the piston l6 under theinfluence of the coiled spring ll (not shown in Fig. 2) may be morerapid than the inward movement of said piston when the engine starts. Onthe inward movement of the piston l6 air to fill the space within thecylinder at the right hand end of the piston as it moves'to the left canpass thereto only through the small vent 28, other than such smallamount of air as may pass around the pistonrod l8 through the plate 21.But on the outer movement of the piston I the air can pass outwardly notonly through the vent at 28, but the pressure will lift the valve 34 forair passageoutward through the opening 3! and the several vents at 33.

With such a construction of cylinder and with the piston mounted thereinand connected in the same manner as shown in Fig. 1, when the enginestarts and there is a consequent tendency of the piston l6 to moveimmediately to the left to comprets the spring H, the tendency ischecked and the piston moves slowly 'or only as fast as the restrictedentrance of air through the passage 28 permits. Therefore, the releaseof the throttle to move to idling position is gradu'aL' The foot of theoperator which depresses the starter pedal is the one which alsooperates the accelerator pedal. The operator therefore can depress thestarter pedal and close the starting motor circuit until the enginestarts and, before the fuel volume is cut down with a consequent slowingof speed of the engine to or approaching idling speed, the operator maymove his foot to the accelerator pedal, and thus not subject the engineto dying down and stopping which might otherwise occur, particularly inthe times when the engine is cold. However, when the engine stops or isstopped at the end of a run the piston l6 moves outwardly withoutappreciable check to its movement and almost instantly positions thethrottle valve in itspartly open desired position for starting.

The construction described is simple and is very readily and easilyapplied to the usual rod which is interposed between the acceleratorpedal and the throttle valve. It has no parts to get out of order; Theadjustment of the collar 22 and of the adjusting screw 26 is veryquickly and easily accomplished both being readily accessible foradjustment. There is an insurance that the fuel mixture going to theengine cylinder will be of a predetermined desired volume and notsubject to either the forgetfulness of the operator to move the throttlelever mounted at the center of the steering wheel to partly openposition, or to an opening of the same haphazardly to a position fartherthan it should be. The construction is fully automatic in operationunder the control of the engine, releasing and becoming ineffectiveafter the engine has started,'and immediately operating to-becomeeffective when the en gi'ne stops.

The detail of structure for accomplishing the same result bysubstantially the same means may be varied considerably.v For example,the cylinder, piston and spring I! may be replaced by an equivalentdiaphragm structure such as is well known in the art in connection withdevices operated through vacuum induced by the engine suction. There aremany other equivalent devices which will occur to those skilled in theart. Therefore, the invention is not to be restricted to the particular.detail of mechanism shown but is to be considered comprehensive of allforms of structure coming within thescope ofv the appended claims whichdefine the invention.

I claim: I

1. In an internal combustion engine provided with a carburetor having athrottle means for controlling the volume of fuel mixture passingthrough the carburetor to the engine, of yielding means acting on saidthrottle when the engine is at rest, to open the same to a predeterminedposition to permit a greater passage of fuel mixture than the minimumpassage permitted by the carburetor when it is free of said means, andmeans actuated by air pressure provided through suction of the enginewhen it is running for pedal to upper position and for closing thethrottle means to its minimum fuel passage position, a second springmeans having greater'force than the first spring means operativelyconnected with the throttle means to partially open the same when theengine is at rest, and engine actuated means operating when the engineis running for releasing the second spring means from effect upon saidthrottle means.

3. In combination with an internal combustion engine having an intakemanifold and a carburetor connected with the manifold, throttle meansassociated with the carburetor for controlling the volume of fuelmixture passing to the engine, an accelerator pedal, interposed meansincluding a longitudinally movable rod between the throttle meansandaccelerator pedal for operating the throttle means by depression of the,accelerator pedal to open the same, spring means for returning thethrottle means to its minimum fuel passage position on release of theaccelerator pedal, a cylinder, a piston therein, a second spring meansacting on the piston to move the same in one direction, means interposedbetween the pie-'- ton and said longitudinally movable rod for movingthe rod in a direction to partially open the throttle means when theengine is at rest, said second spring means overcoming the first springmeans acting on said rod, and a tube connecting the intake manifold andcylinder whereby the 4. In combination with an internal combustionengine having an intake manifold and a carbu-'-' retor connected withthe manifold, throttle means associated with the carburetor forcontrolling the volume of fuel mixture passing to the engine, anaccelerator pedal, interposed means including a longitudinal movable rodbetween thethrottle means and the accelerator pedal for opening thethrottle means on depression of the accelerator pedal, spring means forreturning the throttle means to its minimum fuel passage position onrelease of the accelerator pedal, a cylinder, a piston therein, a secondspring means acting on the piston to move the same in one direction, acollaron the rod, a lever pivotally mounted between its ends, having oneend engaging the col--' lar, means connecting the other end ofvsaidlever with the piston and stops to limit the pivotal movement of saidlever, as and for the purposes specified.

5. In combination with an internal combustion engine having a carburetorprovided with a throttle valve, an accelerator pedal. means to operatethe throttle valve in one direction by .the accelerator pedal, springmeans for moving the throttle valve in the opposite direction, a memberoccupying one position when the engine is at rest, means operated bysaid member and acting on the throttle valve to partially open the samewhen said engine is at rest, and means'actuated by the operation oftheengine when the engine is running for moving the member to anotherposition and thereby releasing the throttle valve 1 from control by saidmember.

6. In combination with an internal combustion engine having a carburetorprovided with throttle means to control the volume of fuel mixturepassing through the carburetor to the engine, of

means acting when the engine is at rest for moving said throttle meansto a predetermined position to increase the quantity of fuel passing tothe engine a predetermined amount over the. minimum quantity-fuelpassage at which the carburetor is set, and engine operated means actingwhen the engine starts in operation, for gradually releasing thethrottle means over a short interval of time until said throttle meansis entirely released and is free to occupy the position a for minimumfuel mixture passage.

7. The combination with an internal combustion engine having an intakemanifold, a. carburetor connected thereto and aithrottle meansassociated with said carburetor for controlling the 1 fuel passage tothe engine, of an accelerator ped- I al, intrposed means including alongitudinally movable rod between the accelerator pedal and throttlefor'opening the throttle means on depression of the accelerator pedal,yielding means normally moving said rod in the opposite direction toclose the throttle means, a collar on the rod, a cylinder, a pistontherein, a lever pivotally mounted between its ends having oneendthereof engaging against a side of the collar, a tube connecting thecylinder and said manifold, connections between the piston and leverwhereby on movement of the piston in the cylinder when the engine startssaid lever is moved away from said collar, and spring means acting tomove said lever against the collar when the engine is at rest, saidspring means having strength to overcome said yielding means.

8. In combination with an internal combustion engine having a carburetorprovided with a throttle valve, of means for positioning said valve in apredetermined partially open position when the engine is at rest,adjustable means for controlling the extent to which said valve ispartially opened when the engine is at rest, and engine operated meansacting to release the valve from said first mentioned meanswhen theengine is running.

9. In combination with an internal combustion engine having acarburetor, an intake manifold and a throttle valve between thecarburetor and manifold, a shaft on which said valve is mounted forturning movement, an arm extending from" the shaft, 9. rod connected toand extending from said arm, foot operated means for moving said rod ina direction to open the throttle valve. spring means for closing thethrottle valve, a collar on the rod, a pivotally mounted lever havingone end thereof engaging the collar, means acting on the other. end ofthe lever to press the first mentioned end of the lever against saidcollar to move the valve to partiallyopen position when the engine is atrest. and a connection between the engine manifold and said leveroperating means for turning the lever to release said collar from theaction of said lever, when the engine is running.

10. In combination with an internal combustion engine having acarbureter and a throttle means associated with said carbureter forcontrolling the fuel passage to the engine, of an accelerator pedal foractuating the throttle means, spring means acting on said throttle meanswhen the engine is at rest to lower the accelerator pedal below itsextreme upper position, and means operated by the engine when it isrunning for overcoming said spring means and freeing the throttle E.LIVERANCE, J R.

